Tristan (Pirate Lords Series Book 1)

by Elizabeth Rose

  “Some mistakes can never be fixed,” he told her. “No amount of wishing can make it so.”

  “Well, we were goin’ to make things right and I was goin’ to help him.”

  “I don’t understand. What were you going to do with the treasure? What was it that needed fixing?”

  Before she could answer, there came a knock at the door.

  “Who is it?” growled Tristan, not wanting to be interrupted.

  “It’s Ramble, Cap’n,” came a voice from the other side of the door.

  “Go away. I don’t want to be disturbed.”

  “But I –”

  “You heard me. Now leave. I’m busy.”

  He heard muffled voices that seemed to be arguing although he couldn’t hear what was being said. Then the door burst open. Instead of Ramble entering like he’d expected, Nairnie pushed her way past the boy and barged into the room.

  “I am no’ goin’ to leave because there is somethin’ I need to tell ye that is of great importance.”

  “Nairnie? What the hell are you doing? You can’t burst into my private quarters like this,” complained Tristan.

  “Nairnie, is somethin’ wrong?” Gavina jumped up and ran over to the old woman.

  “Somethin’, or should I say someone, is rotten aboard this ship and I intend to get to the bottom of it and do somethin’ about it.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Tristan got up and stretched.

  “I’m sorry Cap’n, but I tried to tell her ye were busy and that we shouldn’t disturb ye,” said Ramble, still standing just outside the door. “Nairnie insisted. When she is angry, I’ve learned it’s not a good thing to ignore her.”

  Ramble’s continuous talking was starting to give Tristan a headache. “Well, how about I just ignore you instead?” He walked over and slammed the door in Ramble’s face.

  “If ye keep on doin’ that, Cap’n, I am goin’ to start thinkin’ that ye don’t like me,” came Ramble’s muffled voice from the other side of the door.

  “All right, what is it Nairnie that has your feathers so ruffled?” asked Tristan, not really caring, but knowing the faster he calmed her down the sooner she’d leave his cabin.

  “Never mind feathers, what I’m talkin’ about is sabotage! Deceit, trickery, and downright dirty deeds.” She ticked off a finger with each word as she listed them. “Well, I dinna like it, I tell ye. I dinna like it one bit.”

  “Nairnie, calm down.” Tristan put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “What in the bloody hell are you talking about?”

  “I’m talkin’ about the fire.”

  “Oh, that. Don’t remind me.” He released her and ran a weary hand through his long hair. “That is a real setback and something that is only going to slow us down in finding that treasure.” He started to pace the floor in thought like he always did when he felt troubled.

  “It wasna my fault. It seems I didna cause that fire after all,” spat Nairnie.

  “What?” Tristan stopped pacing and looked over his shoulder at her. “I thought you said you left the oats on the flame too long.”

  “I did say that and thought that at first. Then, I remembered that when I went to talk to Gavina, I took the pot off the fire, meanin’ to put it back on when I returned.”

  “So someone else did it, hoping to blame ye,” Gavina broke in.

  “Aye, that’s exactly right,” she answered. “I think one or more of the crew is causin’ trouble and blamin’ it on ye and me, Gavina.”

  “Why would they do that?” asked Gavina. “Dinna they like us?”

  “Oh, they like you, Gavina,” mumbled Tristan, thinking about the crew’s actions just moments ago.

  “They dinna like us on this ship, that’s for sure,” Nairnie told Gavina with a snort. “I’m no’ blind. I see exactly what they’re doin’. They are makin’ it look like it’s the two of us that are causin’ all the bad luck.”

  “That’s terrible,” exclaimed Gavina. “Tristan, ye’ve got to do somethin’ about this. Ye’ve got to help us.”

  “Do I?” he asked softly, not liking to be in this position. He didn’t want to come between the women and his crew.

  “Aye, Tristan, please,” begged Gavina. “After all, Nairnie is yer grandmathair and I am yer wife.”

  “You don’t need to remind me.” His pacing continued. God, he needed a nap. All he wanted to do was rest and think things through. With these women aboard, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever sleep again.

  “Ye need to find the culprits and make them pay for what they’ve done.” Nairnie wagged a finger in his fact. “I’ll bet it is that no-guid Noll and his crusty sidekick Wybert behind all this.”

  “Aye, that’s who it is,” agreed Gavina. “Tristan, can ye help us?”

  “Now wait a minute. Both of you,” said Tristan raising his hands in the air. His head spun from all the noise. Trying to handle one woman was bad enough – he didn’t need two chirping in his ear day and night. “Nairnie, you are an old woman and I’m sure you forget things often.”

  “Are ye accusin’ yer own grandmathair of lyin’?” She squinted one eye and pursed her lips. Her hands were on her hips again and he wouldn’t be surprised if she started swinging at him next.

  “Nay,” he said with a smile, shaking his head. These women sure had a way of turning things around. “I didn’t say that at all. I just meant that mayhap you . . . forgot what you did. It happens to everyone on occasion.”

  “Mmph,” grunted Nairnie, not looking at all amused. “No’ to me, it doesna happen. I remember every little thing in my life and, in the past, I have even had visions of things to come.”

  Now he knew she was addled. After all, nobody could see the future.

  “Nairnie is the most trustworthy person on this ship,” said Gavina, sticking up for the old woman. “She would never lie, Tristan. Ye have to believe her.”

  “I didn’t say she lied,” he ground out. “And I never said I didn’t believe her.”

  “Well, ye said I’m forgetful and that I made up the whole thing.” Nairnie’s hands balled into fists on her hips now. This could only mean trouble for him. How the hell was he going to convince these two of anything right now? Living on a ship of men, things were cut-and-dried. If there was a problem, it was out in the open, never hidden. A man said exactly what he meant and no one ever read anything into it that wasn’t there. Women, on the other hand, were always trying to twist things around and cause trouble when there was no need for it at all.

  “Cap’n,” called Ramble from the other side of the door, knocking again. “Cap’n, please open the door.”

  “Egads,” Tristan spat, stomping over to the door and pulling it open. Why wouldn’t everyone just leave him alone? “What is it, Ramble? And by God, this better be important or I swear I’ll take off your head.”

  “It is important, I promise ye that. Mardon told me to let ye know we’re dockin’ right now. Aaron is lowerin’ the flags and sails so no one realizes we’re pirates. He said to tell ye that the men want to go on another raid and he agrees. After all, our supplies are low and most of what we stole from the Crooked Crow was ruined in the fire.”

  “Tell Mardon I don’t really give a damn what he does. If he thinks we should raid the place, then go ahead and do it. He’s the quartermaster and is supposed to know these things. So, stop bothering me. I’m busy.”

  “Aye, Cap’n.”

  “Oh, but tell Aaron not to drop the anchor. Come to think of it, have him keep the sails half-furled for a quick departure.”

  “Then everyone will know we are pirates,” protested Ramble.

  “I don’t give a damned who knows we’re coming. They’ll figure it out once we raid them anyway.”

  “Aye, Cap’n. I’ll tell them right away,” said Ramble, taking off at a run.

  “Tristan, ye arena really goin’ to raid again so soon, are ye?” asked Gavina. “Mayhap this could just be a trip for supplies that we pay f
or. In an honest way.”

  “Don’t talk to me about being honest,” said Tristan, trying to stay out of this kind of conversation with these two.

  “I agree with her,” said Nairnie.

  “I don’t need women telling me what to do,” he shouted. “Ramble, tell Mardon we’ll take what we need and whatever the hell we want,” he shouted out the door. “Then we’ll go elsewhere to repair the ship’s damage from the fire.”

  “How can ye give that order?” Nairnie glared at him now. “I canna believe my grandsons are actin’ this way. Call off the pillagin’ and plunderin’, Tristan. Ye are no’ bein’ a guid example to the rest of the men.”

  “God’s eyes, Wench! I’m a damned pirate, not a priest!”

  Wanting Nairnie gone, Tristan could only think of one way to make her leave, other than him throwing her out on her arse. “Sorry, Nairnie, but the choice really lies with Mardon. He’s my quartermaster and decides which ships or ports to raid. It’s his job, and I back his decision. If you don’t like the choice he made, then mayhap you ought to take it up with him, not me.”

  “Hrmph. I think I will,” said Nairnie, raising her chin in the air. “I’m goin’ to talk to Mardon about this right now. I’ll get him to change his mind.”

  “You do that,” said Tristan with a smile and a nod, almost feeling bad for Mardon. Then again, Mardon only had one woman to deal with while Tristan had two. He herded Nairnie out the door and quickly closed it behind her. “All right, I can no longer wait. I need to see that map right now,” he told Gavina. “Now strip off your clothing.”

  “Tristan, ye canna see the map,” Gavina told her husband.

  “You’re going to show it to me so don’t even think of trying to distract me again. Aye, I know what you’ve been doing, just not the reason why.”

  “I admit I was tryin’ to distract ye, Husband. However, I only didna want to disappoint ye. Ye see, I’m sorry to tell ye, but the map is no longer on my back.” Gavina finally just came out and told him.

  “Stop fooling around. Now let me see it.” He reached out and pulled her top down off her shoulders, turning her back to him. “God’s eyes, the map is gone!” she heard him gasp from behind her.

  “I ken. I told ye that.”

  He pulled her clothes lower, down past her hips and put his hand on the small of her back. Running his fingers up and down over the top of her buttocks, he acted like he was searching for something desperately. “Nay!” he shouted. “This can’t be. Where the hell is it? Why would you do such a thing?”

  She stepped away from him and pulled her clothes back into place. Tying her bodice and not turning around, she spoke. “Ye told me ye made a copy of it so I didna think I needed it any longer.”

  “I just said that, but I didn’t really do it.”

  “So ye lied? Like ye accused Nairnie of doin’?” She glanced at him over her shoulder.

  “I didn’t want to disappoint you either, Gavina, that’s why I said that instead of trying to look at it when it was really what I wanted to do. And, I did not accuse Nairnie of lying! Gavina, I never even saw the bottom of the map. That’s the most crucial part that shows where the treasure is buried.”

  She turned around to see him pacing like a caged bear. “Well, canna ye figure it out from the part ye did see?”

  “Nay, I can’t! I need that damned map. All of it. Why the hell did you wash it off?” he demanded to know. “What were you thinking? That was a stupid thing to do.”

  It angered Gavina that Tristan was acting this way. So much so, that she could no longer hold back her emotions. “I’m just as upset about losin’ the map as ye are,” she told him. “Tristan, ye have no right talkin’ to me like that. I am yer wife.”

  “Stop telling me what to do.” He turned around and started knocking things around. A small chest went crashing to the floor, and coins rolled out. Then he threw an empty wine bottle down and it broke, shards of glass flying everywhere. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

  “Aye. I’ve cleansed my body to look beautiful for ye,” she told him in a sturdy voice. “I thought ye would like it. Now, I dinna ken why I bothered since ye didna seem to notice and neither do ye seem to care about anythin’ but that stupid treasure.”

  He spun on his heel and stared daggers at her now. She tried to be brave, but the pirate in him was coming out and, this time, it was frightening.

  “That stupid treasure is being anticipated by every man on this ship,” he told her. “We’ve gone through a rough time lately and this is what we need to make things right. More than anything right now, we need this treasure. The men were counting on me. Now, when they find out I’ve lost the map, they are probably going to commit mutiny unless my brothers kill me first.”

  “It’s just a map,” she told him, feeling as if she weren’t as important to him as that treasure. It made her heart ache. They’d spent intimate moments together, but now he seemed like a whole different person. She figured it was that pirate blood in his veins that he said he could never rid himself of.

  “It’s not just a map, Gavina. It’s the key to our survival,” he said through gritted teeth. “I should have listened to my brothers as well as my crew and never have let you and Nairnie stay on board. You’ve caused nothing but trouble since you’ve stepped foot on this ship.”

  “Then mayhap I’ll just leave.” She felt like crying, but wouldn’t do it. Instead, she started to head for the door.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” he told her, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her back, swinging her around. She stumbled and fell to the ground.

  “Cap’n, everyone is waitin’ for ye to disembark,” came Ramble’s voice from outside the door. “Cap’n, are ye in there?”

  “I’m coming,” he shouted and then looked back at Gavina still on the floor. “Stay here,” he commanded.

  “I will no’.” She jumped up and ran to the door. He stopped her again. This time, his hand gripped tightly to her wrist. “Stop it, Gavina, before you force me to hurt you.”

  “Hurt me?” She looked up, surprised to hear him say this. “Ye would really hurt me? Ye’re my husband.”

  “I may be your husband, but I’m also captain of this ship and you will listen to me. The same rules go for you as for any of my crew.”

  “Well, I’m no’ yer crew. Tristan, I’m yer wife.”

  “Aye, and even more reason not to challenge my decisions.” His eyes turned dark and dangerous, reminding her that he wasn’t just her husband. Tristan was a pirate first and always would be. “I’m locking you inside the cabin until my return and I want you to know it’s for your own safety. Once my men find out we have no treasure map, they’ll all be ripping off your clothes looking for the map themselves.”

  “I willna let them,” she said, rubbing her arm. “I’ll go to shore and find someone to protect me.”

  He was walking to the door but when he heard that, he stopped in his tracks and his head snapped around. The look of disappointment filled his eyes.

  “Gavina, what do you think I’m trying to do?”

  “I no longer ken. I’d think if ye were really tryin’ to protect me, ye’d take me with ye.”

  “On a raid?”

  “So ye’re really goin’ to pillage and plunder again?”

  “Well, now that I have no map, I see no other choice but to go out and do what’s necessary. We’re going to have to find something to replace the treasure that was so close to my grasp that I could taste it. This raid is on your head, Gavina. I didn’t want to do it, but you forced my hand.”

  “How do I ken ye willna leave me to yer bluidy wolves after all?” she blurted out as he opened the door.

  He looked down to the key in his hand when he spoke. “I guess you’re just going to have to trust me.”

  “Trust ye? Ye want me to trust a pirate? Ha!”

  His dark eyes searched out hers. Pain and sorrow filled his gaze and now she regretted saying that to him because she did
n’t think he’d ever forget it.

  “I suppose you’re right,” he said softly. His eyes closed slightly and he let out a deep breath. “Don’t trust me, Gavina, because I am just a pirate.” He opened the door and stuck the key in the lock.

  “What do ye mean?”

  “Some things were never meant to be, and I’m starting to realize our marriage is one of them. Neither of us is happy, and both of us will never change. I’m sorry, Gavina, but your life will never be the same again. Like it or not, you’ll accept what goes on aboard this ship and you’ll never question my decisions. You are mine now, and remember you made this choice on your own. You are naught but a wife of a pirate and don’t you ever forget it again.” He left, turning the key in the lock, making her his prisoner once more.

  Chapter 15

  “Everyone, listen to me,” shouted Tristan, walking on deck and holding his hand in the air. “Our time here is limited, so make it a fast trip. Take extra canvas sacks and collect all the food and drink and coins that you can carry. I want those shuttle boats back to the Falcon before they know what hit them.”

  “What about wenches?” asked one of the men. “I want to find myself a girl while we’re here.”

  “Me, too,” shouted another.

  “Do what you want, but stick to the whores,” said Tristan. “Also, don’t kill anyone unless it’s in self-defense. Keep to the code.”

  His men hurried around the ship collecting up all the items they’d need for the raid. The sound of the pulleys filled the air as they lowered the shuttle boats into the water.

  “What about the ship?” asked Peg Leg Pate, stomping over to him. “I need supplies to fix the burned deck and galley.”

  “Are there any holes in the hull or anything that will endanger our journey?”

  “Nay, not really,” answered Pate. “There is a lot of interior damage, but I suppose it could wait.”

  “We’ll stop at the next port for supplies,” Tristan promised him. “In the meantime, work on fixing that squeaky step.”

  “Aye, Cap’n. I’ll have to rebuild it.”